Folding gate



W. R. PITT.

FOLDING GATE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

N0. 522,801. Patented July 10,1894.

W. R. PITT.

FOLDING GATE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 522,801. Patented July 10,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. PITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,801, dated July 10, 1894.

Application filed January 24, 1894:- Serial No. 497,852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. PITT, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding gates in which a series of pickets is provided with sliding sleeves connected by links extending from one picket to one or more adjacent pickets.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 represents a gate as it appears when extended, the links in this instance being shown as connected to the sleeves upon opposite sides of the pickets. Fig. 2 is a view of the same, showing the gate folded. Fig. 3 is a view of the same in end elevation. Fig. 4 is a view of the upper portion of a modified form in which the links are pivotally secured to fixed bearings on the pickets at their ends and at points intermediate of their ends, the gate being represented as extended. Fig. 5 is a view of the same, showing the gate folded, and Fig. 6 is a view of a portion of a gate, showing the latter extended and the connecting links on one side of the pickets only, as distinguished from locating them on opposite sides, as shown in the former figures.

The pickets are denoted by A and the number to constitute a gate may be determined at pleasure, depending upon the width of the opening which the gate is intended to close and also upon the distance between two consecutive pickets when the gate is open. The pickets are connected by two or more double series of links. In the present two such double series are shown. As the different double series are quite similar, it will only be necessary to describe one of them. A set of sleeves; in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, three in number and denoted respectively by B, B and B is slipped onto each picket A and is constructed to receive the picket with a snug, sliding fit. The middle line of sleeves B is fixed to the pickets by means of rivets I) (see Fig. 3) extending through the wall of the sleeve into engagement with the body of t the picket. Each of the sleeves is provided on its front and rear sides with studs, those on the sleeve B being denoted by b and 6 those on the sleeve B by b b and those on the sleeve B by b, b. The several studs referred to are for the purpose of pivotally securing the links to the sleeves. The series of the links at the front is denoted by C, O, '&c., while the series of links at the rear is denoted by c, c, 850. Eachlink of each series connects the sleeve of one picket with the sleeve or sleeves of one or more consecutive pickets, the link C for example at the edge of the gate connecting the sleeve B with the sleeve B2 of the next consecutive picket and the link 0 connecting the sleeve B of the first picket with the sleeve B of the third picket. The series of links c, c, &c., is furthermore arranged in a diagonal direction to cross the links 0, C, &c., of the other series. The set of intermediate sleeves B being fixed to the pickets while the sets B and B are left free to slide upon the pickets, as the pickets are drawn apart or closed together, the sleeves B and B will slide toward or away from the 7 sleeves B. As a matter of detail, the sleeves B, B of the first picket at the left and of the last picket at the right, may be provided with studs on one side only, instead of upon both opposite sides. The other double series of links-whether one or more-is, as before observed, secured to the pickets and arranged theroonin the same manner as the series al ready described.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the number of links employed is materially reduced, being less than half the number employed in Fig. 1 for a gate of the same number of pickets and the number of sleeves on each picket for a double series of links is two instead of three. The pickets in this form are denoted, as be fore, by A 3 the sleeves on each alternate picket are denoted by D and D' and upon the intermediate pickets by D The sleeves D are fixed in position on the pickets on which they are located and the sleeves D are fixed in position on the pickets onwhich they are located. The links of the series at the front are denoted by E, E and E and those at the rear by e, e and c Each link E, E, &c., is pivotally secured to a sleeveD of one picket, the sleeve D of a consecutive picket and the sleeve D of the next picket and the links 6, e, &c., are similarly pivoted to the sleeves in all respects to those already described in i Fig. 1-are connected to studs on one side of the sleeves instead of upon opposite sides of the sleeves, as in the former case. In other respects the structure and operation is the same as that referred to in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Among the advantages inherent in the structure hereinabove described, it will be observed that-the, pickets may be formed of ordinary bar iron, as it is found upon 'the market, out OK in such lengths as may be desired to determine the height of the gate. The sleeves to which the links are pivoted, being of similar structure, may be manufactured in quantities and slipped into position on the pickets, while the links being also of uniform structure with the exception of the shorter links at the edges, may be manufactured in quantities and the gate set up by simply upsetting the ends of the studs on the sleeve to hold the links in position and riveting certain of the sleeves to the pickets.

The structure also provides for making the J sleeves of bronze or other suitable metal which will contrast with the iron or other metal of which the body of the picket may be constructed, thus providing for the pivotal connections a metal which will not be liable to oxidize so as to weaken or obstruct the free folding and unfolding movements of the gate.

The pickets may be tipped with any ornamental form that may be desired or they may be left plain.

What I claim is- 1. A folding gate, comprising a series of pickets, each provided with a plurality of sleeves, one of the sleeves being fixed to the picket, and series of links pivotally secured to the sleeves each link connecting a fixed sleeve on one picket with a sliding sleeve on an adjacent picket, substantially as set forth.

2. A folding gate, comprising a series of pickets, each provided with a plurality of groups of sleeves thereon, one sleeve of each group being fixed to its picket and links pivoted to the opposite sides, of the sleeves, each link connecting the fixed sleeve with one or more sleeves on adjacent pickets, substantially as set forth.

3. A folding gate, comprising a series of pickets, sleeves fitted to slide on the pickets and having studs extending from their sides, and links provided with perforations to receive the studs on the sleeves, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM R. PITT, WVitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, C. E. LUNDGREN. 

